Comparing relativistic and non-relativistic quark pair creation models

Abstract: We investigate the strong decay properties of light unflavored and strange mesons within a relativistic quark-pair-creation (QPC) framework, and compare the results with those obtained in the conventional non-relativistic QPC model. Our analysis shows that, within the present theoretical and experimental uncertainties, the relativistic QPC model yields predictions for strong decay widths of comparable overall quality to those of the non-relativistic QPC model. This indicates that the non-relativistic QPC approach remains adequate for estimating decay widths in most practical applications. Nevertheless, owing to the inclusion of Lorentz boosts and Wigner rotations, the relativistic QPC model exhibits a stronger suppression of decay amplitudes in the high-energy region. This feature may be useful in studies based on unquenched quark models, where the relativistic QPC coupling could lead to more controlled meson-loop effects and mass shifts.